In support of the country’s young and most able entrepreneurs, the Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) has launched the Robinsons Malls’ Entrep Corner. The goal is to give these student-owned small-to-medium enterprises a chance to showcase their products in one of RLC’s many shopping malls.
For some time now, RLC has been forging valuable partnerships with some colleges and universities. They choose these academic partners based on their carefully-screened business-related degree programs such as entrepreneurship, business management and economics. After the screening, the chosen school selects a number of their student companies who can competently market their products or services in the mall venue. The Robinsons Malls’ Entrep Corner has become a launch pad for various student companies coming from San Beda College and Miriam College.
Miriam College is, in fact, at it again. Under the mentorship of teacher Maria Luisa B. Gatchalian and Entrepreneurship Department chair Mona Liza S. Lee-Serrano, you can find a number of Miriam’s selected student-owned companies showing off their products at the first level, Robinsons Galleria East Wing until March 22. There are 14 of them to check out, each with something to interest, entice and even indulge you!
Like the Mochilla bags of Jennifer Macaraig, Geoleana Ty, Marie Lou Reye, and Clarisa Lubrin, whose beauty lies in the strap. Adjustable and detachable, Mochilla bag straps allow you to sport a different look just by changing the look of the strap.
It’s in the bag for JEM Denim Bags. Designed by owners Raquel Franchesca Aytona, Grace Casala, Jerina de Jesus, Charmaine Go, Joan Mallari, Mae Carmelli Pastor, Mina Ramos, and Bianca Sagrit, these bags razzle and dazzle with their bead, lace and glitter designs at only P100 to P320.
Now that you’ve got your bag, it’s time to try on some sandals and slippers. With summer here, Toes and Straps may just have the perfect beach sole-mates for you. Toes and Straps’ Camille Calisin, Mayen Mae Go, Danica Tiu, and Dyan Mae Viduya have developed a line of strappy sandals that provide as much comfort as style, at only P230 to P399 a pair.
That there’s more to jewelry than meets the eye is the philosophy behind Oh Your Style. Showcasing jewelry with an exotic touch, the company’s designer Melissa Blanco puts to aesthetic use materials such as snake bones, porcelain and peacock tail. This is a passion she shares with her groupmates Lovely Kawahara and Epiphany Roble. These wearable pieces of art sell for P100 to P1,250.
This summer, prepare to Strip It, using the newest organic hair removal wax developed by Arlette Alvarado, Diane Araga, Keena Comia, and Ingrid Manzano. These girls believe that waxing need not be an expensive treatment; in fact, it can be done at home.
Dedicating its service to children with special needs is Aqua Sports Unlimited. With 21-year-old swimming champ Nhemia "Em-Em" Velasco at the helm, this swimming clinic hopes to put a smile on the faces of young ones suffering from autism, mild cerebral palsy, and similar conditions by teaching them how to swim. Nhemia holds sessions at the Rizal Provincial Capitol in Pasig City, with the help of good friends and business partners Angelica Amorin, Monina Gatan, Luisa Maddela, Jamie Panado and Maricel Samson.
Turning a Filipino staple into bite-size delights are Jicka Mae Catral, Charlene Chua, Mary Joan Lipnica, Katrina Anne Mendoza, Rachelle Silva and Jenalyn Susvilla of Rice Balls. According to these lady entrepreneurs, their product was developed with LRT commuters in mind, people who only have time for a quick bite along the way. For just P27, one can enjoy this one-of-a-kind rice meal that comes in three Filipino favorite flavors: tocino, sisig, and corned beef. These rice balls also pair greatly with the girls’ specially prepared garlic mayo dip.
Also keeping in mind the typical Filipino food fare, Ikan Grill and Restaurant presents various dishes featuring fresh grilled fish such as bangus, biya, kanduli, ayungin, tilapia, dalag, and karpa. Owned and managed by Jahziel Leuterio, Rosili Chiara Raya and Ariane Faith Santos, this grill and restaurant serves combo meals for as low as P80.
For dessert, you can definitely cool down with Sundae Morning’s ice cream creations. These frozen delights are recipes developed by Genine Ira Garcia with the help of her business partners Jaclyn Claire Bialoglovski, Maria Theresa Cruz and Jilian Orila. They’ve got Kooky Dough, Granny Smith’s Kitchen, Pirate’s Treasure, Sassy Margarita, Pinacoolada and Meet Joe Barako, at only P30 per scoop.
Another to-die-for (or is it to-diet-for?) dessert at the Entrep Corner is called minitaw, a creation of Kamille "Maika" Cruz, Kristine Cogolio, Marie Cristine Evidente, Mary Anne Luzon and Clara Guillene Quimbo. This dessert is inspired by the native rice cake palitaw, using the recipe of Maika’s mother. At P25 per order, you can choose from Original, Latik, Con Leche and Chocnut.
Looking for a drink to go with all these goodies? You may want to head over to Juice Rancho. Juice Rancho’s Jennylyn Delgado, Cristina Muyrong and Karen Zubiri have three fresh buko juice concoctions you’ll simply go nuts over  Buco Lychee, Buco Nata, and Buco Longgan. At only P18 to P20 per serving, this is one affordable and refreshing indulgence.
You may find this one truly s-tea-mulating: Le Rouge tea. A cold beverage made of rose petal extracts and honey, Le Rouge tea is delicious, refreshing, and good for you, according to Le Rouge’s Khrisma Alegado, Anthonette Amorte, Trisha Agustin, Cer-Bel Cerdeno, Amor Dela Cruz, Jerrica Marasigan and Airene Pascual,
The Robinsons Entrep Corner is buzzing again with a lot of things new. And who knows, the next young, bright entrepreneur could be you!
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E-mail the author at ravin.facts@yahoo.com.